3 Major Filming Locations Bring Stories to Life, Bursting with Local Charm

After watching "Coffee or Tea?", "Back to Field", and "The Borderland of Love", I couldn't forget Xishuangbanna's tea forests and Dai stilt houses. I went with the mindset of "finding scenes from the shows" and it was absolutely divine – no deliberate photo ops, just everyday local charm, as if I walked right into the show's scenes!

"Back to Field" | Manyuan Village: Bamboo Shed Kitchen Hides Local Charm

📍Location: Menghan Town, Jinghong City, 1-hour drive from the city center, free parking at the village entrance.

The first thing I recognized upon entering the village was the "old courtyard" from the show! It's right next to the village committee, the bamboo gate is ajar, and the bamboo shed, stone mill, and wood-fired stove in the courtyard are all untouched. The edges of the iron pot still have burn marks from cooking, where Huang Lei once stir-fried chicken.

Walking further along the concrete road, you'll find Dai mushroom houses painted with elephants and peacocks. There's no influencer graffiti, just traces of villagers' daily lives. The small river where Peng Yuchang washed vegetables is super clear, you can see pebbles at the bottom. Villagers are washing clothes by the river, children are chasing fish – it's exactly the relaxed vibe from the variety show.

Two must-do things: ① Learn to weave bamboo baskets at the village entrance, villagers teach for free, super satisfying; ② Eat the "variety show-style roasted chicken", find the Dai family restaurant at the village entrance (the farmer who supplied ingredients back then), mention "I want the Teacher Huang special", and the owner will add extra lemongrass, making the skin crispy, meat tender, and incredibly fragrant!

"Coffee or Tea?" | Nuogan Ancient Village: A Slow Cinematic Dream in the Tea Forest

📍Location: Jingmai Mountain, 3.5-hour drive from the city center, parking available at the village square.

Right upon entering the village, I stumbled upon the "prototype coffee shop" from the movie – a two-story Dai stilt house, with a wooden structure elevated on stone pillars, peacock patterns carved on the eaves, and the bamboo tea table at the entrance is where Peng Yuchang and Yin Fang acted out their scenes!

Follow the stone path uphill for 15 minutes and enter the "Tea Forest Coffee Garden" – half century-old ancient tea trees, half coffee trees. The scene in the movie where "the old tea farmer opposes planting coffee" was filmed under this old tree. Spend 50 yuan to experience tea picking and stir-frying. The tea farmer teaches you to pick "one bud, two leaves". When stir-frying, you stand by the iron pot and flip until your arms ache. The roasted dry tea is packed into a kraft paper bag for you to take home, much more authentic than bought souvenirs.

Don't miss the old banyan tree at the village entrance in the evening! Order a 10-yuan ancient tree tea, watch the sunset lengthen the shadows of the stilt houses, mirroring the movie's ending scene of "three people watching the sunset". The wind is filled with the aroma of tea. Staying overnight is even more amazing; wake up at 6 AM to see the morning mist in the tea forest, swirling white around the tea trees~

"The Borderland of Love" | Multiple Filming Locations: Unlocking the Everyday Old Scenes from the Story

The filming locations for this show are scattered but all are hidden gems!

✅ Manyangguang Dai Village: "Bomo - Xiaomolung" in the show, very low commercialization. Explore old Dai courtyards and experience the original ecological charm without tourists, perfect for slow travelers.

✅ Dai Ethnic Garden: "Xiaomolung Checkpoint" in the show, water splashing activities at 11 AM / 3 PM (buy a water basin for 10 yuan). Explore intangible cultural heritage stalls and immerse yourself in Dai culture, a must-visit for family trips.

✅ Menghai Old Street: "Outside the Construction Site" scene in the show, the core is food! Find barbecue stalls frequented by locals, enjoy skewers with ice-cold beer. It's super relaxing to grab a meal after exploring, food-loving fans shouldn't miss it.

For those who have watched these shows, quickly add Xishuangbanna to your itinerary! 👇